What is a Wheel Alignment?
At Dale’s Auto Service, we prioritize the safety and longevity of your vehicle.
One essential service often overlooked by drivers is wheel alignment. In this article, we’ll explore what wheel alignment is, why it’s highly recommended, and how often you should have it done.
What is Wheel Alignment?
As your vehicle’s suspension components degrade over time, the alignment of your wheels can shift, leading to uneven tire wear and compromised safety.
Wheel alignment involves adjusting the angles of your vehicle’s wheels to ensure they are parallel to each other and perpendicular to the ground.
Why is Wheel Alignment Recommended?
Proper wheel alignment is crucial for several reasons:
1. Increased Tire Lifespan: Misaligned wheels can cause uneven tire wear, leading to premature tire replacement. By maintaining proper alignment, you can maximize the lifespan of your tires and avoid unnecessary expenses.
2. Enhanced Safety: Correct wheel alignment ensures optimal handling and stability, reducing the risk of accidents and improving overall driving safety.
3. Improved Fuel Efficiency: Misaligned wheels can increase rolling resistance, causing your vehicle to consume more fuel. Proper alignment helps optimize fuel efficiency and saves you money at the pump.
Modern Wheel Alignment Service:
Today’s wheel alignment service is far from basic. Our highly trained technicians utilize advanced technology and precision equipment to perform accurate and comprehensive alignments.
From adjusting camber and caster angles to inspecting steering and suspension components, we go above and beyond to ensure your vehicle’s alignment meets manufacturer specifications.
How Often Should You Align Your Wheels?
While the specific interval may vary depending on your vehicle’s make and model, it’s generally recommended to have your wheels aligned every 15,000 to 20,000 kilometers.
However, factors such as driving habits and road conditions can influence the frequency of alignment checks.
Consult your vehicle’s maintenance manual for guidance tailored to your vehicle.
Camber is the angle of the wheel, measured in degrees, when viewed from the front of the vehicle. If the top of the wheel is leaning out from the center of the car, then the camber is positive ,if it’s leaning in, then the camber is negative.
If the camber is out of adjustment, it will cause tire wear on one side of the tire’s tread. If the camber is too far negative, for instance, then the tire will wear on the inside of the tread.
CASTER is when you turn the steering wheel, the front wheels respond by turning on a pivot attached to the suspension system.
Caster is the angle of this steering pivot, measured in degrees, when viewed from the side of the vehicle.
If the top of the pivot is leaning toward the rear of the car, then the caster is positive, if it is leaning toward the front, it is negative.
If the caster is out of adjustment, it can cause problems in straight line tracking.
TOE MEASUREMENT is the difference in the distance between the front of the tires and the back of the tires.
We measure toe in fractions of an inch and is usually set close to zero which means that the wheels are parallel with each other.
Toe-in means that the fronts of the tires are closer to each other than the rears. Toe-out is just the opposite. An incorrect toe-in will cause rapid tire wear to both tires equally.
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Additional Services we offer:
Wheel Alignment
Who are Dale's Auto Service?
Over the last 40+ years in business, Dale’s commitment to quality has helped us maintain the highest level of customer service and technical excellence.
You, the customer, are the most important component of any business.
Our team is consistently trying to meet and exceed the demands and needs of each and everyone.
